You have probably seen Morgan Harper Nichols, who is also signed as MHN, all over social media with her gorgeous artwork and poetry. 

Morgan Harper Nichols is an artist and designer, author and poet, musician and songwriter, podcaster and was recently diagnosed with autism. 

Her journey to writing poetry started when she posted online a poem she wrote about ending her career as a musician, and received so many messages back supporting her poetry. Morgan began to answer the requests for advice from people in need of a particular reassurance, and she would write directly for them and share only the response on social media which she still does to this day. Her work shows how universal our needs and  problems are, as so many of us can relate to her words of wisdom. 

“I write to connect, because I know in my core, we are all more alike than we are different. I write in honesty and imperfection, knowing things will get better, and together, we have a gift of grace.”

Since starting this journey as a poet and artist, Morgan has become the author of many books including Storyteller: 100 Letter Poems, All Along You Were Blooming, How Far You Have Come and soon to be released Peace is a Practice. I have read all of her books that she has released so far and admire the beauty that she conveys on every page. The heartfelt messages in the poems remind us that we are a work in progress and to have grace for ourselves on whatever journey we are on. These books would be the perfect gift for anyone, especially if they are in the middle of a tough stage or need reassurance.    

Her app, Storyteller by MHN and podcast The Morgan Harper Nichols Show are beautiful accompaniments to her work of spreading hope, light, grace and love into the world. 

Each day, Storyteller app presents a new artwork and poem, with an expanded message and ends with an affirmation and journal prompt. There is also the option to enable a short daily message notification with an uplifting sentiment derived from that day’s app message and art. It has fast become one of my favourite apps and one of the few notifications I am not annoyed by and pleased to see each day!

Learning to Just Be

If there are days where you feel 
your body is too tired
to fill the room with laughter
and good stories
in the way
your heart wants to,
it is okay
to not be
all you feel
you have to be, 
and to focus on breathing, 
and being, 
knowing that even when you are quieter
and you smile comes a little slower
you are not empty.
you are not any less significant
you are are a traveller on a journey
who is simply in need
of rest
in the arms of the kind of peace
where you are free
to just be. 

18 January 2022 - Storyteller by MHN App

If you prefer audio to visual, try out The Morgan Harper Nichols Show podcast for your daily dose of uplifting and reassuring messages which are four to seven minutes long and read by Morgan herself. I love listening to these short podcast episodes while I am reflecting on the day and winding down to go to sleep. 

Morgan Harper Nichols is such a genuinely caring person and generously shares so much of her work in whatever format you enjoy; whether that be looking at her posts and stories on her Instagram, or listening to her podcast, or reading her books or daily messages on the Storyteller app. There is so much available and it is just what the world needs right now – uplifting messages to remind us we are in the middle of our journey, to keep going with grace and courage, and share the love and light all around us. 

Morgan’s new book, Peace Is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life is to be released in 2022. I can’t wait for my copy to arrive!

Take heart, Readers. I’ll keep the light on.